Refugees & Immigrants

Refugees & Immigrants

LGBT Refugee Services

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JFCS East Bay is currently the lead organization in the United States resettling lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex refugees. LGBT people are increasingly targeted around the world, as more countries criminalize homosexuality or gender non-conforming behavior. LGBT refugees are often exposed or turned in to the police by family or community members, putting them in grave danger and forcing them to flee their homes with very short notice. Many become victims of violence, torture, and rape.

JFCS East Bay’s LGBT Refugee Services program provides comprehensive resettlement services for those refugees who are able to obtain status through the United Nations to come to the United States. Most of these young refugees (typically in their early twenties) come from Africa and the Middle East, with asylees arriving from Latin America and the former Soviet Union. Unlike other refugees, LGBT individuals arrive in the country completely alone and thus need in-depth, personalized services to start their new lives.

JFCS East Bay case managers are specifically trained to meet the complex needs of this unique and vulnerable population. Our bilingual, bicultural staff members provide services in Dari, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, and Spanish.